Coco Chanel was a pioneering French fashion designer born in 1883. She opened her first boutique in Paris in 1910 selling hats. Over the following decades, she introduced many iconic fashion items including the little black dress, quilted handbags, costume jewelry, the Chanel suit, and the Chanel No. 5 perfume. Chanel helped liberate women from the constraints of the past by creating simple, comfortable clothing that allowed for freedom of movement. Her designs emphasized functionality and elegance over ornamentation. Chanel had an extraordinary influence on 20th century fashion and remains one of the most influential fashion houses today.